Scaffold



Patented Apr. |8 ,-l899. L. M. WILBEFL SC AF F U L D.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1898.)

2, Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

7l i z nesses Patented Apr. l8, I899. L. m. WILBE'R.

5 C A FF 0 L D (Application filed Dec. 5, 1898.

2 Sheets-Shem 2.

(No Model.)

. UNTTED STATES PATENT Trice.

LOUISE M. \VILBER, OF BUFFALO, NEYV YORK.

SCAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 623,269, dated April18, 1899.

Application filed December 5, 1898. Serial No. 698,332- (No model.)

T0 to whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUISE M. WILBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Scaffolds, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a scaffold which is more especially designedfor house-painters, although the same is also useful in constructingbuildings.

The object of my invention is to produce a sectional scaffold for thispurpose which can be easily erected for use and compactly folded forstorage or transportation and which can be conveniently adjusted to suitbuildings of different heights and to permit a section supporting onegang of workmen to be raised and lowered independent of the othersections.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is aperspective view of my improved scaffold. Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryvertical section,on an enlarged scale, in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4,5, and 6 are horizontal sections in lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5, and 6 6, Fig.2, respectively.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The scafiold (shown in Fig.1) consists of two sections and is arrangedfor painting the side of a building in two sections. In this arrangementthree ladders A A A are placed vertically at the proper distance apartalong the building, and two horizontal gang-planks or platforms B B" areemployed for supporting the painters or workmen, the adjacent ends ofboth planks being supported from the middle ladder A, while the oppositeends of the planks are supported from the end ladders A A Each of theseladders is constructed in the usual way, its horizontal rounds ct beingsecured centrally to the side bars a thereof, so as to leave the edgesthereof on opposite sides of the rounds unobstructed. Each of theladders is supported at its lower end by a standard (3, which isadjustably connected with the lower portion of the ladder. This standardconsists, essentially, of a horizontal base or supporting-block c andtwo vertical bars 0 c,which have their lower diverging ends 0 secured tothe top of the base. The standard-bars are connected centrally byhorizontal rods or rounds c so as to form a downward extension of theladder. The distance between the standardbars is less than the distancebetween the ladder-bars, so that the standard-bars can be placed againstthe front side of the ladder rounds, between the bars thereof.

The mechanism whereby the ladder is adjustably connected with thestandard is constructed as follows: guides which are secured to theopposite sides of the ladder-bars, near the lower ends thereof, and eachof which is provided with a pair of jaws d d, which embrace thelongitudinal edges of .one of the standard-bars, near the upper endthereof. The space between the jaws of each guide on the inner side ofeach standard-bar is suflicient to permit the jaws to slide upon anddown on the standard-bars when adjusting the ladder vertically withoutthe jaws striking the rounds of the standard-bars.

lVhen the ladder has been shifted lengthwise on the standard into thedesired position, it is held against movement by a locking-pin d, whichpasses through one of a number of pairs of openings d in thestandard-bars and a pair of perforated supportingarms 02 secured to theinner side of the ladder-bars and bearing against the outer side of thestandard-bars, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

The lower portion of each standard is held against displacement by meansof a pair of inclined lower braces E E. These braces are preferablysecured with their inner ends to the water-table of the building byscrews or otherwise, and their outer ends are arranged on opposite sidesof the standard and connected by a tie rod or bolt e. In order to permitthe braces to be raised or lowered to suit different heights ofwater-tables,the outer ends of the braces are adjustably connected withthe standard, so as to permit the braces to be raised or lowered on thestandard. For this purpose each of the standard-bars is provided with avertical row of adjustinglugsf, each of which has a bayonet or undercutslot f, adapted to receive the tie-bolt of the lower braces. Each lug onone standard- D D represent two bar is horizontally in line with a lugon the other standard-bar, so that the lugs of both bars are arranged intransverse pairs. Upon shifting the tie-bolt of the lower braces from 5one pair of adjusting-lugs to another the position of these braces withreference to the standard can be adjusted vertically to suit buildingson which the height of the watertables varies.

\Vhen the scaffold is not in use, the lower braces are detached from thestandard, and the latter is detached from the ladder to permit the partsto be folded compactly.

The upper end of each ladder is adjustably connected with the upperportion -of the building as follows: G represents a cylindrical guidesocket or sleeve which is arranged above the upper end of the ladder andwhich'is provided on opposite sides with 2 a two downward ly-divergingsu pportin g-arms g g, bearing against the inner sides of theladder-bars. The supporting'arms are pivoted at their lower ends to theuppermost round of the ladder, which permits the guide-sleeve and itsarms to be folded against the ladder when not in use. The guide-sleeveand its supporting-arms aresecured in an upwardlyprojecting positionwhen the scaffold is in use by means of locking-pins g g, which passthrough openings in the ladderbars and the guide-sleeve arms adjacent tothe pivot of the latter.

H represents an upright pole or rod which is arranged with its centralportion in the 5 guide-sleeve and is capable of sliding verticallytherein. The upper end of this pole is connected by two inclined upperbraces h h with the eornice-l'ioard or other part of the building. Thesebraces are secured with 40 their inner ends to the building by screws orotherwise and are adjustably secured with their outer ends to oppositesides of the pole by a bolt 7L, which passes through one of a verticalrow of openings 7L2 in the pole. The 5 lower end of the pole is providedwith one or more pivoted hooks 7L3, which are adapted to engage with oneor another of the upper rounds of the ladder for holding the lower endof the pole in position. By engaging the hooks 71 of the pole with ahigher or lower round of the ladder and shifting the upper braces up ordown on the upper end of the pole the parts may be adjusted so as topermit of attaching the upper part of the scaffold to buildings whichdiffer in height.

I represents carriages whereby the gangplanks are adjustably supportedon the ladwlers. Each of the carriages is arranged on the outer side ofone of the ladder-bars and is connected near its upper and lower ends byguides i with said bar, so as to permit the carriage to slideverticallyon the bar. Each of the guides consists, preferably, of twojaws which embrace the opposite longitudinal o 5 edges of theladder-bar, but are separated on the inner side of the bar sufficient toclear the ladder-rounds and permit the carriage to rise and fall freely.Each of the guide-jaws is provided with an antifriction-roller 'L",which bears against the adjacent longitudinal edge of a ladder-bar andpermits of raising and lowering the carriage easily. The carriage isprovided with a laterally-projecting supporting-bracket J, consisting ofa horizontal supporting-armj and an inclined brace j.

The end of a gang-plank is placed upon the supporting-arm of the bracketand is prevented from sliding off bya stop or pin j arranged at theouter end of the arm. \Vhen the scat fold is organized for twogang-planks, a central ladder is employed having carriages on both ofits bars for supporting the opposite ends of the planks, as representedin Fig. 1. It is obvious that additional planks may be employed byproviding additional ladders and carriages, each intermediate ladderhaving two carriages, while the end ladders require only one carriage.\Vhen only one gangplank is employed, two ladders and two carriages arerequired. By arranging the carriages to slide on the outer side of theladderbars two carriages can slide on opposite sides of the ladderwithout interfering with each other, thereby permitting eachintermediate ladder to support two planks and still enable each plank tobe raised and lowered independently of the other plank.

Each of the carriages, together with the respective end ofthe plankresting thereon, is raised or lowered by a cord k, passing around apulley 7a. In order to utilize one cord and pulley for shifting eitherof the carriages on opposite sides of the same ladder, the pulley isconnected with ahorizontally-movable supporting-arm L, and one end ofthe cord is provided with a detachable fastening whereby it may beconnected with either of the carriages on the ladder. This fasteningconsists, preferably, of a hook l, secured to thecord and adapted toengage with an opening Z in the upper portion of either carriage. Thesupporting arm is preferably arranged to turn upon the verticalsupporting-pole below the guide-sleeve, so that it can be swung towardeither side of the ladder and move the pulley and its cord over thecarriage which is to be shifted. The supporting-arm is held againstvertical movement on the pole by pins Z passing through openings in thepole above and below the arm, a vertical row of such openings beingprovided to permit of adjusting the arm vertically on the pole and awasher Z being interposed between each pin Z and the adjacent side ofthe arm to provide a large bearing-surface.

Each of the carriages is held in its adjusted position by an automaticcatch or pawl M of usual construction, pivoted to the inner side of thecarriage,preferably on one of its guides, and provided at one end with aslot or mouth m, which engages with'oue of the rounds of the ladder, andat its opposite end with a weight m, whereby the catch is turned forautomatically engaging its mouth with said rounds in a well-knownmanner.

The side bars of the standard are separated from the side bars or theladder, and the distance from the lower ends of the ladder-bars to thebase or to the ground is greater than the height of the carriages topermit the same to be applied to the ladder from the lower end'of theside bars or removed therefrom, thereby permitting the scaffold to beerected or taken down more easily and also permitting one of the twocarriages to be removed from a ladder when it is desired to take downthe scaffolding partially and erect the same elsewhere.

When it is desired to paint the opposing sides of two buildingssimultaneously, the ladders are erected in the alley-ray or spacebetween the two buildings, and an additional bracket M is attached toeach carriage for carrying another gang-plank n, as represented indotted lines, Figs. 2 and 8, the brackets of each carriage projectinglaterally in opposite directions and supporting the planks on oppositesides of the ladder.

My improved scaffold is very durable in construction and reliable inoperation and can be quickly erected and adjusted, thereby permittingthe building to be painted expeditiously, whereby the cost of paintingthe building is reduced proportionately.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the standard and theladder of a scaffold, of a guide arranged on the ladder and embracingthe standard, a supporting-arm arranged on the ladder adjacent to thestandard, and a pin passing through openings in the standard and thesupporting-arm of the ladder, substantially as set forth.

The combination with the standard of the scaffold provided with a pairof upright bars, of a ladder provided near its lower end with a pair ofguides which loosely embrace the bars of the standard, supporting-armsarranged on the ladder adjacent to the outer side of the standard-bars,and a locking-pin passing through openings in the standardbars and insaid arms of theladder, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the standard of the scaffold provided with avertical row of undercut notches, of a brace adapted to engage with oneor the other of said notches, substantially as setforth. 7 v

4:. The combination with the standard of the scaffold, of lugs arrangedin vertical rows on the standard and each provided with an undercutslot, braces arranged on opposite sides of the standard, and a tie-rodconnecting said braces and engaging with the slots of a pair of saidlugs, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold adapted to support agang-plank, of

an upright supporting-pole connected with the upper central portion ofthe ladder, and braces connected with said pole, substantially as setforth. 7

6. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold provided at its upperend with a guide-sleeve, of a supporting-pole capable of verticaladjustment in said sleeve, and braces connected with said pole,substantially as set forth. I

'7. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold provided at itsupper end with a guide-sleeve, of a supporting-pole capable ofverticaladjustment in said sleeve, a hook arranged on the lower portionof the pole and engaging wit-h one of the rounds of the ladder, andbraces connected with the upper end of the pole, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold, of a guide-sleevearranged above the ladder and provided with supporting-arms which arepivoted to the ladder, a supportingpole capable of sliding in saidsleeve, a hook connected with the lower portion of the pole and engagingwith one of the rounds of the ladder, and braces connecting with theupper portion of the pole, substantiallyas set forth.

9. The combination with the ladder of a scaffold, of two separatecarriages which are mounted on the side bars of the ladder and 95 whichare capable of moving vertically the full height of the side bars,whereby two separate platforms resting on the carriages may be raisedand lowered independently of each other and one ladder serves to supportthe opposing ends of two separate platforms, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the ladder of the scafiold, of twoplank-supporting carriages capable of independent vertical movement onopposite sides of said ladder, a shifting rope adapted to be connectedwith either of said carriages and passing around a pulley, and a movablesupport carrying said pulley, substantially as set forth. v

11. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold, of twoplank-supporting carriages capable of independent vertical movement onopposite sides of said ladder, a shifting rope adapted to be connectedwith either of said carriages and passing around a pulley, an uprightsupportingpole connected with said ladder, and a horizontally-swingingarm pivoted on said pole and carrying said pulley, substantially as setforth.

12. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold and theplank-supporting carriage guided on said side bars of the ladder, of atially as set forth.

13. The combination with the ladder of the scaffold and theplank-supporting carriages guided on the side bars of the ladder, of astandard having its upper portion narrower than the Width of the ladderand connected with the same, the lower end of said side bars beingseparated from the ground a distance greater than the height of thecarriages to permit the latter to be placed upon the side bars orremoved therefrom at the lower ends i0 of the side bars, substantiallyas set forth.

WVitness my hand this 23d day of November, 1898.

LOUISE M. WILBER.

Witnesses:

THEO. L. PoPP, CARL F. GEYER.

